Charles Rangel introduced historic legislation to combat the HIV epidemic

[The Straight Story]

GMHC APPLAUDS CONGRESSMAN RANGEL FOR INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS HIV IN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
OIA Newswire


April 7, New York, NY -- This week, New York City Congressman Charles Rangel introduced historic legislation to combat the HIV epidemic in the United States. Rangel's legislation addresses the extreme racial disparities experienced by African Americans in the domestic HIV epidemic.

The legislation notes that nearly half of the over 1 million Americans living with HIV are black, and that blacks overall are 8 times more likely to acquire HIV than their white counterparts, and that black women are 23 times more likely than white women to acquire HIV. Additionally, the bill priorities two specific black populations that are in most need of targeted HIV prevention research -- men who have sex with men (MSM), and women.

"Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) congratulates Congressman Rangel on his leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS," said Marjorie J. Hill, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at GMHC. "This landmark legislation will make significant strides in combating the epidemic by involving the faith-based community, addressing homophobia, and targeting critical federal resources to populations at disproportionate risk," added Hill.

In October 2007, Dr. Hill attended a two-day conclave of clergy and HIV experts which launched this legislative initiative. "I am grateful to Congressman Rangel for his ongoing leadership in the fight against AIDS, and proud of GMHC's partnership with the other participants in this meeting," concluded Hill.

The legislation, H.R. 1964, is titled the "National Black Clergy for the Elimination of HIV/AIDS Act." <4/8/2009>

http://www.outinamerica.com/home/news.asp?articleid=33151

[roughsatori]

1. AIDS Is Leading Cause of Death for African-American Women in Pennsylvania.

The number of African-American woman who are HIV postivie in Philadelphia is staggering. And as that group has historically been left out of studies, and newsreports it is underreported. GET TESTED NOW.

From the African-American HIV/AIDS Factsheet:


HIV/AIDS in 2005

**According to the 2000 census, blacks make up approximately 13% of the US population. However, in 2005, blacks accounted for
18,121 (49%) of the estimated 37,331 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the United States in the 33 states with long-term, confidential
name-based HIV reporting <2>.*

**Of all black men living with HIV/AIDS, the primary transmission category was sexual contact with other men, followed by injection
drug use and high-risk heterosexual contact <2>.

**Of all black women living with HIV/AIDS, the primary transmission category was high-risk heterosexual contact, followed by
injection drug use <2>.

**Of the estimated 141 infants perinatally infected with HIV, 91 (65%) were black (CDC, HIV/AIDS Reporting System, unpublished
data, December 2006).

**Of the estimated 18,849 people under the age of 25 whose diagnosis of HIV/AIDS was made during 2001–2004 in the 33 states with
HIV reporting, 11,554 (61%) were black <3>.

Link to CDC factsheet: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/aa/resources/factsheets/aa.htm

[roughsatori]

2. Research of medications biased toward White men hinders knowledge of efficacy in treatment of Women

When medications are tested as per protocols, double blind, etc. an issue arises in that the majority of in-situ testing is done on Caucasian males. This occurrs in the research of many medication in the USA - Not just HIV/AIDS related. Some side-effects that have found to be minimal in research have been released only to discover that in women the medications create a new set of more troubling side-effects. The biological ability to tolerate certain medications is quite different in African-American Woman than the same medication in a Caucasian male.

There is work being done to remedy the situation. We must pay attention. Please get tested, and practise safer sex. Remember that there are various strains of HIV. Not just one. An HIV positive person must practice safer sex for their own protection: an accumulation and reinfection of other strains is thought to spur the transition from HIV to AIDS - the severity of symptomology is related to, along with other issues, re-infections with OTHER STRAINS OF HIV.

If you have any questions about this (as sense is lacking in my above explication due to my weak didactic skills), just send a PM. I'll do my best to be clear, and will keep it private.